If you closed your eyes, the soft music made it sound as though you were in your dentist’s waiting room. There, except with the sound of over 5,000 people loudly chatting.

Then Hilton Coliseum darkened and a distinctive tenor that has only belonged to James Taylor filled the room and the crowd began its enjoyment of a full night of folk, jazz and humor.

Live, the man and his band’s strong presence were outdone only by Taylor’s humility and conversational interaction with his audience.

After opening with “Secret O’ Life,” he said the crowd would hear some old songs as well as some new ones.

“They sound just like the old ones, so it’s not —” he faded, then said, “This is called ‘October Road.’ “

The tunes ranged from the slow, blues-tinged “Mean Old Man,” to the rocking “Slap Leather.”

” ‘Slap Leather’ was written during the last adventure in the Persian Gulf, and we just dusted it off,” Taylor said.

In between songs, Taylor shot one-liners and wisecracks like a comedian, and voices from the crowd joked back to him, constantly asking for “Carolina in My Mind.”

As well, some had brought wrapped gifts to be given to Taylor, and one woman gave him a bouquet while he stood on the stage.

Taylor proudly took the flowers, then stuck his tongue out at the people in the top seats.

Many of Taylor’s classic hits, such as “Fire and Rain,” “Copperline,” and “Your Smiling Face” were delivered, as well as a cover of Carol King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Taylor’s closeness to the crowd came through in every song.

“It’s like sitting in your living room and having someone sing to you,” said Carol Lewis, of Clear Lake.

Lewis has been a fan since the days of Taylor’s first hits, and she was very enthusiastic about seeing Taylor again.

“When he gets into his old songs, all the memories come flowing back,” she said.